You divided by (a-B), which is equivalent to 0.

 

 

 

Big no-no.

 

b(a-B) == b*a-b

 

No, b(a-B) = b*a-b*b :-s .

 

 

 

you can multiply by zero.

 

Yes :-s (rendering the product 0), but you can't divide by 0. You can't do 1/0, 20/0, 0/0, infinity/0, x/0, a/0, anything. Mathematical laws require that you not divide by 0.

 

 

 

Thus, this is the illegal step:

 

(a-B)(a+B)=b(a-B)

 

\/

 

a+b=b

 

when did he divide? it's all multiplication.

 

you could say that if x is any number, the above means that x*0 = 0*x.

 

 

 

No, a and b are equal and not 0. Sorry if that was confusing, I should have stated that.

 

 

 

I divided here, as Reb said:

 

 

 

(a-B)(a+B)=b(a-B)

 

V

 

a+b=b

 

 

 

I factored out the (a-B), and since a=b, a-b=0, therefore by factoring I am dividing by 0. Which can't be done.

when did he divide? it's all multiplication.

 

you could say that if x is any number, the above means that x*0 = 0*x.

 

:wall:

 

:

 

(a-B)(a+B)=b(a-B)

 

\/

 

a+b=b

but isn't (0)(a+B) MULTIPLYING a+B by 0?

but isn't (0)(a+B) MULTIPLYING a+B by 0?

 

Oi.

 

 

 

You're going in the wrong direction buddeh.

 

 

 

That, or you're trying to end the proof right there, which is exactly the problem- the proof should end there (using your step, reaching 0=0) for it to abide by mathematical laws, but it doesn't. By dividing by 0 and continuing to "2=1", the proof is at fault.

but isn't (0)(a+B) MULTIPLYING a+B by 0?

 

 

 

I must sympathize with Reb here: :wall:

 

 

 

(a-B)(a+B)=b(a-B)

 

 

 

Okay. I got rid of the (a-B) by DIVIDING both sides by the common factor. Which is division by 0.

so it is true until you try to prove it... wow.

 

sorry guys, my bad.

Back, So, whats all this conversation about 2=1?

 

 

 

Oh well, as long as its educational, it fits in this thread.

 

 

 

At least it well in like 10 secs.

 

What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks,

 

has a head but never weeps, and has a bed but never sleeps??

 

A river

 

 

 

What happened in 1961 and will not happen again until 6009?

 

a year that reads the same upside down as right side up

 

 

 

 

 

What is light as a feather, but even the strongest man cannot hold

 

it more than a minute?

 

his breath though some people can hold it for longer

 

 

 

 

 

What in an automobile engine serves no purpose but without it the engine

 

does not work?

 

noise

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine you are in a sinking rowboat surrounded by sharks. How would you survive?

 

stop imagining

 

 

 

 

 

Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?

 

Mount everest was still the highest

 

 

You are driving a bus. Four people get on, three people get off, then

 

eight people get on and ten people get off,

 

then 6 people get on and 2 more people get off. What color were the bus

 

driver's eyes?

 

 

whatever your eye color is, that only works when you say it or only show one line at a time.

 

 

 

There was an airplane crash, every single person died, but two people

 

survived. How is this possible?

 

 

 

they were a couple, and therefore not single

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which is heavier: a pound of gold or a pound of feathers?

 

 

they are both one pound

 

Incorrect

 

 

 

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

 

 

a circle has no beginning

 

Incorrect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also have a mathematical proof that 2=1, wonder if it's worth posting. . .

 

 

 

True, there is proof 2 = 1, you can post if you want, its good to have people learn some more things.

 

 

I agree, that should be interesting.

 

 

 

I can prove that 1+1=3, but that is philosophical rather than arithmetical.

 

 

 

Post here if you want to know the correct answers, I don't want to spoil other people's fun by posting the answers here, I'll PM you the answers.

 

 

 

the feathers are heavier, they're wieghed on different scales

 

 

 

the chicken came first, you need a chicken to lay an egg and keep it warm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

my turn for questions,

 

 

 

why cant a man living on the east of the mississippi river be buried west of it?

 

 

 

a man build a house with all for sides facing south and a bear come by. what color is the bear?

 

if a red house is made of red bricks a blue house is made of blue bricks a purple house is made with purple bricks and a brown house is made with brown bricks what are green houses made of?

the feathers are heavier if you use different pounds, traditionally the riddle's answer is that they're both one pound. I've already proved that the egg came first a few posts back.

Posted with permission from the thread creator, don't kill me :ohnoes:

 

 

 

Here is proof that 2=1

 

 

 

Let a=b, a and b are real numbers

 

 

 

a*a=b*a

 

 

 

a(exponent 2, or squared, can't do it on my keyboard)=ba

 

 

 

a(squared)-b(squared)=ba-b(squared)

 

 

 

(a-B)(a+B)=b(a-B)

 

 

 

a+b=b

 

 

 

b+b=b

 

 

 

2b=b

 

 

 

2=1

 

 

 

Disprove that :wink:

 

You start with a=b, right?

 

Going from step

 

(a-B)(a+B)=b(a-B) to step

 

a+b=b

 

would require you to divide by zero, which is not defined. :P

 

 

 

my turn for questions,

 

 

 

why cant a man living on the east of the mississippi river be buried west of it?

 

He is living, thus he can't be buried. Or shouldn't. :twisted:

 

 

 

a man build a house with all for sides facing south and a bear come by. what color is the bear?

 

White.

 

if a red house is made of red bricks a blue house is made of blue bricks a purple house is made with purple bricks and a brown house is made with brown bricks what are green houses made of?

 

Glass

 

 

 

By the way, feathers are much cheaper than gold, so, I'd say a pound (ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã) of feathers is heavier.

These kinds of posts will inevitiably evolve into a "can you provide a question the original poster can't answer?" thread.

 

 

 

Just my observation.

Posted with permission from the thread creator, don't kill me :ohnoes:

 

 

 

Here is proof that 2=1

 

 

 

Let a=b, a and b are real numbers

 

 

 

a*a=b*a

 

 

 

a(exponent 2, or squared, can't do it on my keyboard)=ba

 

 

 

a(squared)-b(squared)=ba-b(squared)

 

 

 

(a-B)(a+B)=b(a-B)

 

 

 

a+b=b

 

 

 

b+b=b

 

 

 

2b=b

 

 

 

2=1

 

 

 

Disprove that :wink:

 

You divided by (a-B), which is equivalent to 0.

 

 

 

Big no-no.

 

 

 

He divided by zero!!?! OH SHI-

This thread is failing to proceed with its original purpose.

This thread is failing to proceed with its original purpose.

 

 

 

Indeed, and the original purpose wasn't really going to be very successful either.

 

 

 

Locked.